Three Torches (Out of Five)
Warning: The following review contains spoilers of the “Bound” episode of Legend of the Seeker.
Well, it had to happen sooner or later. Legend of the Seeker, which has been on such a roll as of late, was destined to eventually deliver an episode that wasn’t quite up to par with the rest, and this episode was “Bound.”
It was by no means a bad story — that sneaky Sister Nicci casts a spell that links her health with Kahlan’s, and then threatens to kill herself if Richard doesn’t take her directly to the Stone of Tears. (Why she didn’t think to do this a long time ago is anyone’s guess.)
While Richard is coerced onto this road trip, Cara, Zedd, and Kahlan work to undo the spell, which involves restoring the preternatural link between mother and child. In other words, Kahlan needs to re-bond with her mother, which will supersede the new, artificial bond with Nicci, and undo the spell. Still with us? Okay, moving on …
The problem is that Kahlan’s mother is dead. But fortunately, she travels with a wizard of the first order who is capable of temporarily raising the dead, if only they have an object the deceased treasured greatly. But all of her mother’s possessions are kept by her deadbeat father. But he’s in jail … what’s a Confessor to do?
If I have one beef with Seeker, it’s that some episodes get bogged down by overly complicated plotlines, which seem to be tangled webs for no reason — there’s no real payoff. Though well-acted by its core cast, as well as by the guest actors portraying Nicci and Kahlan’s father, I never felt engaged in this particular story because it didn’t seem to concern itself too much with what all of this means to Richard, Kahlan, Zedd, and Cara … and they are, after all, the reason we keep coming back to watch each week.
But enough negativity. There were definitely some fun parts of the show, particularly when Richard has to carefully lead Nicci through a field scattered with Dragon’s Breath mines (just go with it) all the while dodging the giant floral ninja stars (or dacras for all you fanboys) being hurled at them by a pursuing gang of Sisters of the Dark.
Also of note was the moving scene where Nicci is dying and Richard is cradling her but, in his mind, talking to Kahlan. He kisses her tenderly on her eyelid, cheek, and lips, and the effect was both slightly erotic and incredibly sad. Craig Horner has proven he’s an actor of some depth, and in interviews he’s shown his charmingly goofy sense of humor. I wish the show let him stretch a bit more, because when he does, it’s captivating.
And because there’s apparently some interest in this sort of thing, I’ll point out that the Sisters once again employed a creep-crawley spider to deliver some magical poison. Commence involuntary shivering now.
Well, even on days when it’s slightly off, Legend of the Seeker never fails to entertain. I’m looking forward to seeing more of this new Nicci, who ended the episode declaring to Darken Rahl that she’s no longer in service of the Keeper. Interesting …
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RYAN KWANTEN!!! (Jackson Stauhouse) PAPUCHO DE MI ALMA; es hermoso U.U, es mio!!! *baba* tan lindo,!! aguante TRUE BLOOD!!! fanatica x 100pre!!!
i thought this was a great ep but thats me b/c finally richard couldnt solve a problem and hopefully that compass will disappear soon like it says in the book “Nothing is ever easy”. and they are kind of making it look easy
I agree that the next episode looks to be an interesting one but the way this one ended gives me a vibe that there’s a possibility of Nicci playing a further role in the season or be in the season finale. Personally hoping for Richard to get his han back.
Can’t wait for the next episode. It looks promising. With some girl in it who contains the ’spirit’of the Creator. Sounds interesting.
For those of us that read the books, this episode had a lot more meaning, as it is a pivotal spell that takes place in the 5th book, but it lasts about a year instead of a few days, of course we know that the TV world can’t work on the same timeline as the books for obvious reasons. I thought with all of this considered the writers did a pretty good job. Of course the parts with her father and mother are new, as they are both dead in the books. I thought they should have focused more on how her father taught her to fight and strategize, he was a King (not a Da Haran) and a great warrior. Michael Nouri was great and I think that Emily Foxler is a much Better Nicci that Blalock (nothing against Jolene) but again for those of us avid SOT book followers, this is a much better match for that character who becomes a very important one later in the series.
This was also a great episode for Craig, as noted he showed some great emotion at the end, and this ‘above all else’ is a wonderful Epic Love Story, one of the best every written (IMO). So keep up the Great work LOTS writers and actors!!
Fans and critics, do yourself a favor and if you haven’t read the books… DO, it will help you appreciate each of the story lines much more, translating book to TV is no easy task.
In the book, there is a similar story that Nicci linked with Kahlan and brought Richard with her into oblivion. They actually lived as husband and wife for almost a year together without Kahlan. I really enjoyed that part of the book. *Spoiler ahead* because Nicci ends up fall in love with Richard and became a good person, she was as in the tv not a sister of dark anymore, but she was not a sister of light either, she was just Nicci, the one who loves Richard, but couldnt be with him because he has Kahlan. The story with Nicci was really sad. I hope Nicci in the tv will also fall in love with Richard
I really liked this episode. The scenes between Kahlan and her father shed some light on the role of a confessor. I had never really thought about it from the aspect of the men who are confessed for the purpose of producing more confessors. It’s more sinister than I originally thought.
And the scenes with Richard telling Kahlan how much he loves her?
I. Was. Glued. To. The. TV.
Wonderful episode.
I just hope this show is renewed for AT LEAST another season.
It’s one of the most enjoyable hours on television today.
The conflict between kahlan and her father was the hightlight of the episode because he brought some Balance on the \”too good to be true\” image of the confessors.
Here is a guy who is in love, a passio for his future profession, sent to war by his father, go there with the firm intention to take his chances with love and proffession but what happens? he get confessed and loose everything, 6 years later the lovely confessor dies and he wakes up with two lovely daughters he is afraid might confess him again, he is obviously broken, bitter and angry and unfortuantely takes vengence on the daughters living reminders of what was stolen from him… So no Excuse for him but no excuse for the mother and the confessors in general… even if she comes back to bond with her daughter with a glowing cloud of good Karma around her, what she did to Frederik was just bad, as good confessors are they never even leave a note to the hijacked husband explaining why him, and maybe apologizing, no it\’s all about preserving their lineage at all cost?
It’s the second father of a young confessor, who after the death of the confessor and mother of the said young confessor, becomes so bitter, angry and afraid that he takes on the daughter(s)…
It was good episode for me because of that, finaly calling the reproductive habits of the confessors for what they are, a brutal mental hijacking of someone’s life!
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The conflict between kahlan and her father was going because he brought some Balance on the too good to be true image of the confessors. Here is a guy who is in love, a passio for his future profession, sent to war by his father, go there with the firm intention to take his chances with love and proffession but what happens? he get confessed and loose everything, 6 years later the lovely confessor dies and he wakes up with two lovely daughters he is afraid might confess him again, he is obviously broken, bitter and angry and unfortuantely takes vengence on the daughters living reminders of what was stolen from him…
It’s the second father of a young confessor, who after the death of the confessor and mother of the said young confessor, becomes so bitter, angry and afraid that he takes on the daughter(s)…
It was good episode for me because of that, finaly calling the reproductive habits of the confessors for what they are, a brutal mental hijacking of someone’s life!
I think Michael Nouri did a great job as Kahlan’s father! It would be great to see him again later. But I’m not very fond of Emily Foxler either, she is simply not as good as Jolene Blalock. Except for the last scene, that was cool. Too bad she didn’t bring that performance in the rest of the episode.
I actually liked this Nicci (Emily Foxler) more. I mean when I think of Nicci, this one really fits my idea of her. Even the attitude, not only aesthetically.
Yeah, the idea of the mines was really stupid.
I agree it wasn’t one of the better ones and for me the central problem is the casting of Nicci. The actress is just uninteresting, charisma free. I understand if they couldn’t afford Blalock but I’m sure they could have done better than this.
i think that overall the episode was really great. and i agree that the characters that played kahlan’s father and nicci were not that good. i thought that Craig Horner did an awesome job with the dieing scene and i hope that in future episode he gets be play more goofy, funny scenes
Can’t wait to watch it. Hopefully they get the new episode on netflix/hulu soon.